Wrench



I. W. LITCHFIELD.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION man JUNE 11. 1919.

' 1,345,202. Patented June 29, 1920.

ISAAC W. LITCHFIELD, OF NEWTONVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 29 1920 Application filed June 17, 1919. Serial No. 304,809.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo W. Ll'lOI-IFIELD, a citizen of the United States'of America, and a resident of Newtonville, Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wrenches, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to wrenches, and more particularly to a wrench having relatively movable jaws which may be moved into operative position and gripped therein by continued relative movement of the jawoperating members.

An object of this invention is to provide a wrench having relatively movable jaw members and relatively movable operating members therefor with means whereby one continued movement, relatively to each other, of said operating members is effective to move said jaw members into operative position and grip the same therein.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a wrench comprising relatively movable jaw members with awedge for gripping one of said jaw members in its operative position. All devices of this type of which I am aware have been seriously defective and inconvenient in that they have required two distinct movements to move the jaw members into operative position and to grip the same therein, i. 6. they have required one movement to position the jaws operatively to an object and a second movement to effect the movement of the wedge to grip the related jaw in said position. It-is an object of this invention to provide a wrench comprising relatively movable jaws and relatively movable operating members therefor with a wedge for gripping one of said jaws in its operative position whereby continued relative movement of the operat ing members in the same direction will first move the jaws into operative position and then actuate the wedge to grip the related jaw in said position. Y

Another object of this invention is to pro-.

vide a wrench comprising relativelymovable jaws and relatively movable operating members therefor so related that the wrench may be manipulated by one hand only to both move the jaws into operative position and grip'the same therein.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a wrench which may bev conveniently converted into pliers.

Other ob ects of this invention'relate to the provision of a wrench which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and convenient and flexible in use- Stated broadly, the wrench of the present invention comprises relatively movable jaw members, relatively movable hand-operated members for moving said jaw members into operative position, and means, preferably in the form of a wedge, between one of said jaw members and its operating member for gripping the related jaw member in operative position, whereby one continued movement of said operating members relatively to each other is efiective to first move said jaw members into operative position and thereafter grip the related jaw member in said position.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which is shown on the accompanying drawing, but it is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes of illustration only and is not to be construed as a definition of theflimits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose. g

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is. a plan of a wrench embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan showing the jaws in operative position,'and

Fig. 4 is a plan showing means whereby the wrench may be readily converted into pliers.

Referring in detail tothe drawing, wherein the same characters of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts in the several figures, the form shown'comprises a primary member 1 provided adjacent one end thereof with a hand-grip portion 2 and at the opposite end thereof with a head 3 shaped to constitute a jaw 45 and to provide a slideway 5 and a ledge 6. Movable on the slideway 5 is a rectilineally movable jaw 7. Jaw 7 may be constructed in any suitable way for convenient assembly on said slideway and to' prevent accidental displacement of said jaw therefrom. In the form shown said slideway is cut to provide a ledge at 8 and the jaw is provided with a depending flange 9, working in the space above said ledge, and a portion 10 underlying said slideway and working in the space between said slidewayand the ledge 6.

The lower face of movable jaw, 7 is in clined as shown at 11, and cooperating with the inclined face of said movable jaw. is a.

' following engagement of saidjaw members with anob'ject, the wedge is given a further movement toward the head 3.

In order that the movable jaw member and the wedge shall normally move together, means are provided on one of said elements for engaging and normally moving the other of said elements therewith. In the form shown, yieldable means, desirably in the form ofa leaf spring 13, is suitably mounted on the wedge 12, as b a screw 14,

and has a protruding end w ich engages the movable jaw 7. Any suitable expedient may be employed for preventing displacement of said spring; in the form shown a kerf isprovided in the wedge and the end of the sprin is bent and inserted therein. Movement of the wedge toward the head 3 effects movement of jaw 7 in the same direction but, owing to the yieldable nature of the member 13, the wedge may move relatively to said jaw to grip thelatter in op erative position. In order that a return movement of the wedge may also retract the jaw, any suitable means may be provided; in the form shown, a pin 15 "is mounted in the wedge 12 in position to engage the end of jaw 7 and move the same therewith away from the head 3. I

For operating said wvedgeand movable jaw a lever 16 is suitably fulcrumed on the primary member 1, as by a pivot screw 17, and operatively connected to the wedge 12, asby a pivot screw 18. As the wedge in its movement to and fro slides on the ledge 6 in a rectilinear path, play must be provided between said lever and one of said pivots. In the form shown, the slot 19 through which the pivot screw 17 passes is elongated to provide longitudinal movement "of said lever on said pivot.

1 Any: suitable means may be provided for normally urging the operating members apart. In the form shown, a coil spring 20 is positioned between thehand-grip portion 2' of primary member' land the hand-grip portion 21 of lever-.16, and is retained in position i'n any suitable way as by engages mentwith pins 22 projecting from said primary member and said ever.

a accordan e with the present inventi n,

means jal'so be profvide'd wherebythe' wrench as heretofore described my 'be readily converted into pliers. To this end suitable means may be provided for locking movable jaw 7 to the wedge 12. In the form shown, a bolt 23 is mounted in an aperture in said wedge and is movable into and out of the same, being adapted in the latterposition to project into a notch 24: in the lower face of jaw 7. Any suitable means may be provided for moving the bolt into and out of its locking position; in the form shown the screw 14 by which the spring 13 is attached to the jaw 12 is threaded into said bolt and may move therewith in an elongated slot 25 in the wedge and spring. In this construction the spring 13 also operates to retain said locking bolt in either of its adjusted positions.

The wrench, therefore, is composed of crossed-members, pivoted at their point of crossing, which have hand-grip portions so related that the wrench may be readily held in and manipulated by one hand. WVhen the hand-grip'portions 2 and 21 are forced toward one another the'lever 16 slides the wedge 12 along the ledge 6, the lever sliding on its pivot 17, owing to the elongated slot 19, to compensate for the rectilinear movement of said wedge. The wedge carries the movable jaw 7 therewith owing to the spring 13, but when the jaws 41 and 7 engage an object so that their further relative. movement is prevented wedge 12 may. move rela- V tively to aw 7, owing to the slight clearance V therebetween and theyieldable nature of spring 13, to urge saidjaw transversely to its first direction of movement, by wedging said jaw against its way 5, and thereby firmly grip thesame in operative position.

\Vhen the pressure on the handgrip portions 2 and 21 is relieved,'the spring 20, tensioned by the previous movement of said hand-grip portions, returns the lever 16 and wedge 12 to initial position, the pin 15 on said wedge carrying the jaw 7'to initial position. t

Furthermore, if the locking-bolt 23 be provided, the wrench'may. be readily converted into parallelpliers by locking the jaw 7 to the wedge 1 It will therefore be perceived that a simple, inexpensive and readily manipulated wrench has been provided which may be conveniently operated by. one hand and which, by one continued relative movement of the hand-operated members,,.moves the jaws into operative position and thereafter gri is the same in said "position. V r

l hile the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the drawing'has'been described with considerable partici'ilarity, I it it to be expresslyunderstood that the invention is not limited, thereto for the same is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions some of which will readilysuggest themselves to those-skilledinthe jaws are in operative position to grip the related jaw in said position upon continued relative movement of said first-named members.

2. A wrench comprising a pair of crossed hand-operated members pivotally connected at the point of crossing, relativelymovable jaws and means whereby said jaws are moved into operative position by relative movement of said hand-operated members, said means comprising a wedge between one of said jaws and its operating member, be coming effective after the jaws are in operative position and operated by continued relative movement of said hand-operated members, for gripping the related jaw in operative position.

3. A wrench comprising a primary member provided with a jaw, a second jaw, and means for moving said second jaw into operative position comprising a lever fulci'umed on said primary member, and a wedge between said lever and second jaw, becoming effective after the jaws are in operative position and operated by continued movement of said lever, for gripping the related jaw in said position.

4;. Awrench comprising a primary mem' ber provided with a jaw and a'slideway, a rectilineally-movable jaw slidable on said way, and means for moving said slidable jaw into operative position comprising a lever fulcrumed on said primary member and a wedge operated by continued movement of said lever for forcing said jaw against said way to grip said in said position. j

A wrench comprising a primary member provided with a jaw, a second jaw movable on said primary member, a wedge movable on said primary member and coacting withsaid movable jaw, a lever fulcrumed on said primarymember and-operatively connected to said wedge, and means between said movable jaw and wedge whereby said lever may first move said jaw and wedge together into operative position and then move said wedge relatively to said j a-w to grip the latter in said position.

6. A wrench comprising a primary member provided with ajaw and having a handgrip portion, a second j awmovable on said primary member, a wedge movable on said into operative position by primary member and coacting with said movable'jaw, a lever operatively connected to said wedge and fulcrumed on said primary member, said lever having a handgrip portion adjacent said first-mentioned hand-grip portion whereby said lever and member may be manipulated by one hand,

and means between said movable jaw and wedge whereby said levers may move said jaw and wedge together into operative position and thereupon move said wedge relatively to said jaw to grip the same in said position.

7. A wrench comprising a primary member provided with a aw, a second aw movable on said primary member, a wedge movable on said primary member and having means .for normally moving said mov-i able jaw therewith, and a lever fulcrumed on said primary member and operatively connected to said wedge to first position said movable jaw in operative position and then move said wedge relatively to said jaw to grip the latter in said position.

8. A wrench comprising a primary member provided with a jaw, a second jaw movable on said primary member, a wedge movable on said primary member and having yieldable means engaging said movable j aw for movingsaid jaw with said wedge to ward operative position, and a lever operatively connected to said wedge and fulcrumed on said primary member for moving said movable jaw to operative position and said wedge relatively to said jaw to grip the same in said position.

, 9. A wrench comprising a primary member provided with a jaw, a second aw movable on said primary member, a wedge movable on said primary member and having means for moving said jaw with said wedge toward operative position and for retracing said jaw with said wedge, and a lever operatively connected to said wedge and fulcrumed on said primary member for moving said jaw into and out of operative position and said wedge relatively to said jaw to grip and ungrip the same.

10. A wrench comprising a primary member provided with a jaw, a second jaw movable on said primary member, a wedge movable on said primary member and coacting with said movable jaw, a lever operatively connected to said wedge, means between said with said movable jaw, a lever fulcrumed on said primary member and operatively connected to said wedge, means between said movable jaw and wedge whereby said lever 'may first move said jaw into operative position and thereupon move said wedge relatively to said jaw to grip the latter insaid position, and means to lock said movable jaw to said wedge. V

12. A wrench comprising a primary member provided with a jaw, a second j awmovable on said primary member, a wedge movable on said primary member and coacting with said movable jaw, a lever fulcrumed on said primary member and operatively connected to said wedge, means between said movable jaw and wedge whereby said lever may first move said jaw into operative position and thereupon move said wedge relatively to said jaw to grip the latter in said position, and a slidable bolt for locking said movable jaw to said wedge.

13. A wrench comprising relatively-movable hand-operated members, jaws rectilineally movable relatively to each other by operation of said first-named members, a wedge between one of said jaws and its operating member, and means between said wedge and jaw whereby said wedge-is movable with said jaw into operative position and then relatively theretoto grip the same in said position.

14. A wrench comprising relatively pivoted hand-operated members operatively re lated for manipulation by one hand, relatively movable jaws movable into operative position by relative movement of said handoperated members, a wedge between one of said jaws and its operating member, and means between said jaw and wedge whereby said wedge is movable withsaid jaw into operative position and then relatively thereto to grip the same in said position.

15. A wrench comprising relatively-movable hand-operated members, relativelymovable jaws movable into operative posi tion by relative movement of said hand operated members, and means comprising a wedge between one of said jaws and its operating member for moving said jaw into operative position and then urging the same transversely to said first-named movement to grip said jaw in said position.

16. A wrench comprising relatively movable jaws, relatively-movable hand-operated members for moving said jaws, a wedge between one of said jaws and its operating member andioperative connections therebetween whereby relative movement of said hand-operated members in the same direction first moves said jaw and wedge as a unit into operative position and then moves said wedge to grip the related jaw in said position. 7 V

17. A wrench comprising relatively movable jaws, relatively-pivoted hand-operated members and operative connections between said members and jaws for moving said jaws into operative position, said connect1ons com )I'lSlIl" means between one of sald aws and its operating member, brought into operation by continued movement of hand-operated members after engagement of said jaws withan object for gripping the related jaw in said. position.

19. A wrench comprising a primary mem ber provided with a jaw and a slideway, a second jaw slidable on said way, a lever fulcrumed on said primary member, and means operatively connected to said lever and interposed between said lever and movable jaw, said means comprising members whereby said movable jaw is moved by said lever into operative engagement with an ob ject and then gripped against. said way by continued movement of said lever in the same direction.

20. A wrench comprising a primary member provided with a jaw, a second jaw. movable; on said primary member, a lever 'fulcrumed on said primary member,meansop eratively connected to said lever and coacts ing with said movable jaw for gripping said jaw in operative position, and means coacting with said movable jaw for moving the same into operative position upon movement of said lever and for permitting movement of said first-named means to grip said jaw in said: position upon continued movement of said lever.

lb'AAC w. LITGH-FIELD. 

